ACYN
Unproven
Low confidence
ETF Comparison
ACYN vs VAIE: Which Is the Better Pick in 2026?
A head-to-head comparison of FT Vest Laddered Autocallable Barrier & Income ETF and VegaShares US Equity Autocallable Income ETF covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.
Updated November 5, 2026
No track record yet. VAIE launched within the last six months.
How these figures are calculated: methodology.
Price and total return
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Distribution Safety Score
An estimate of distribution reliability, not price or principal safety, a probability, or a guarantee. Score methodology.
VAIE
Unproven
Low confidence
Score snapshot as of . Method 1.11.
Side-by-side snapshot
| Metric |  ACYN |  VAIE |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | FT Vest Laddered Autocallable Barrier & Income ETF | VegaShares US Equity Autocallable Income ETF |
| Issuer | First Trust | VegaShares |
| Last Close | $20.24 as of November 5, 2026 | $21.60 as of November 5, 2026 |
| Distribution rate | 10.45% | 17.09% |
| Trailing 12-month yield | 6.19% | 8.85% |
| Distribution Safety Score™ | 50 | 50 |
| Expense ratio | 0.75% | 0.74% |
| AUM | $2.70B | $68.4M |
| Distribution frequency | Monthly | Weekly |
| Underlying index | — | NYSE U.S. 500 Adaptive Vol Autocallable Index |
| Objective | — | Seeks weekly income by tracking a laddered autocallable index built on U.S. large-cap equities, using a full replication approach. |
| Asset class | Equity | Equity |
| Inception date | 02/24/2026 | 05/12/2026 |
| Beta | 0.2553 | — |
| Last dividend | $0.1762 | $0.071 declared, pays 11/06/2026 |
| Ex-dividend date | 11/02/2026 | 11/05/2026 |
Total returns
100% reinvested · ex-date convention. Period returns use this fixed assumption, independent of chart settings. YTD and 1Y are cumulative period returns; 3Y, 5Y, and 10Y are annualized. The shared Since-start window is annualized only when it covers at least one year.
ACYN has outpaced VAIE over the year to date, posting a 6.71% total return against -6.94%. ACYN has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 4.6% against 21.3% for VAIE. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.
| Symbol | YTD cumulative | Since May 2026 | Volatility | Sharpe | Sortino | Max drawdown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACYN | 6.71% | 2.59% | 4.6% | 0.24 | 0.33 | -2.1% |
| VAIE | -6.94% | -6.94% | 21.3% | -0.89 | -1.05 | -12.1% |
Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date), split-adjusted, as of November 5, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative period returns; 3Y, 5Y, and 10Y are annualized. The shared Since-start window is annualized only when it covers at least one year. “Since May 2026” measures every fund from May 12, 2026 — the start of shared available history — so all funds share one comparison window. Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily total returns over the shared window since May 2026. Sharpe and Sortino divide the annualized return in excess of the risk-free rate by, respectively, that volatility and the downside deviation (both over the shared window since May 2026) — higher is better. Max drawdown is the largest peak-to-trough total-return decline over the same window — shallower is better.
Visual comparison
Key metrics
Projected income on $10K
Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.
Bottom lineWe won't call this one: VAIE launched May 2026, so there is not yet a track record to compare. Compare the strategy, cost and holdings in the sections above and treat any performance figures for the newer ETF as provisional.
How the risk works
Read this before the income numbers below: the strategy mechanics on this page shape what those payouts can cost you.
- Capped upside and premium dependence. VAIE generates income by selling options, which trades away part of a strong rally in exchange for premium. Distributions can include return of capital, and a payout the underlying assets cannot sustain shows up as NAV erosion over time — the big yield number is not free.
Learn the mechanics: Return of capital, explained · NAV erosion, explained
Income calculator
See how much monthly income a hypothetical investment would generate in each ETF at current yields.
ETFs329
Total AUM$290B
ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.
First Trust is known for offering a diverse lineup of actively and passively managed ETFs across multiple investment styles and asset classes. Their fund families span income-focused strategies including dividend and covered call approaches, as well as thematic, factor-based, alternatives, and sector-specific offerings that appeal to different investor objectives. The issuer provides breadth across allocation, bond, buffer, commodities, and municipal fund categories, making them a comprehensive provider serving various portfolio construction and income-generation needs.
See our curated list of related YouTube videos on ACYN.
ETFs7
Total AUM$79.0M
ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.
VegaShares specializes in options-based and thematic ETFs designed to generate income and capitalize on emerging trends. The issuer's lineup spans income-focused strategies, including covered call funds, alongside thematic offerings that target specific market segments and innovation themes. VegaShares serves investors seeking alternative approaches to traditional equity exposure, with a concentrated portfolio of strategically named funds addressing both income generation and sector-specific growth opportunities.
See our curated list of related YouTube videos on VAIE.
Quick verdict
ACYN (FT Vest Laddered Autocallable Barrier & Income ETF) and VAIE (VegaShares US Equity Autocallable Income ETF) are both dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.
VAIE offers the higher yield at 17.09% vs 10.45% for ACYN. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.
VAIE is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.74% compared to 0.75%.
ACYN has $2.70B in assets vs $68.4M for VAIE, but VAIE only launched May 2026 — AUM comparisons will become more meaningful as it builds a track record.
Deep dive
Yield & income
On a $10,000 investment at current distribution rates, ACYN would pay about $1,045.00 a year (about $87.08 per monthly distribution), while VAIE would pay about $1,709.00 a year (about $32.87 per weekly distribution).
ACYN yield10.45%
VAIE yield17.09%
Annual cash diff on $10K$664.00
Cost & efficiency
Over 10 years on $10,000, ACYN would cost approximately $750 in fees vs $740 for VAIE (simplified, not compounded). The $10.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.
ACYN ER0.75%
VAIE ER0.74%
Strategy & risk
ACYN is an ETF built around a structured products strategy, while VAIE tracks NYSE U.S. 500 Adaptive Vol Autocallable Index with an options approach.
ACYN beta0.2553
VAIE beta—
Fund details
ACYN is managed by First Trust (launched 02/24/2026) with $2.70B in assets. VAIE is managed by VegaShares (launched 05/12/2026) with $68.4M in assets.
ACYN AUM$2.70B
VAIE AUM$68.4M
Frequently asked questions
What is the current distribution rate for ACYN and VAIE?
ACYN currently distributes 10.45% and VAIE 17.09%, based on fund data updated November 2026. Distribution rate moves with both the payout and the share price, so check the as-of date before relying on either figure.
Is ACYN or VAIE better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. VAIE currently offers the higher distribution yield, which means more income per dollar invested. However, a lower-yield fund may offer better total return or lower volatility. Consider your time horizon and risk tolerance.
What is the difference between ACYN and VAIE?
ACYN (FT Vest Laddered Autocallable Barrier & Income ETF) is an ETF built around a structured products strategy, while VAIE (VegaShares US Equity Autocallable Income ETF) tracks NYSE U.S. 500 Adaptive Vol Autocallable Index with an options approach. They are issued by First Trust and VegaShares respectively.
Can I hold both ACYN and VAIE?
Yes — nothing prevents holding both. Whether the combination actually diversifies depends on how much the underlying exposures overlap, which isn't fully measurable from the data on this page; review each security's holdings, sector, and strategy before treating them as complementary.
Is ACYN or VAIE safer?
By Dividend Vision's Distribution Safety Score — a rules-based 0–100 estimate of how resilient a distribution looks, where higher is safer — they are effectively tied: ACYN scores 50, VAIE scores 50. Neither has a clear safety edge on that measure. No score makes an investment risk-free — treat this as a screening signal, not a guarantee, and the leverage, options-income, or crypto caveats flagged on this page apply regardless of score.
Which has lower fees, ACYN or VAIE?
ACYN has an expense ratio of 0.75% while VAIE charges 0.74%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.
How much income does $10,000 in ACYN vs VAIE generate?
At current distribution rates, $10,000 in ACYN would pay about $1,045.00 a year (about $87.08 per monthly distribution). $10,000 in VAIE would pay about $1,709.00 a year (about $32.87 per weekly distribution).
Which has performed better historically, ACYN or VAIE?
ACYN has outpaced VAIE over the year to date, posting a 6.71% total return against -6.94%. ACYN has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 4.6% against 21.3% for VAIE. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
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ACYN vs VAIE — at a glance
Generated November 1, 2026.
Figures quoted in this analysis are from its generation date and may lag the live snapshot table above, which always shows the latest data.
Overview
ACYN and VAIE are both equity ETFs built on autocallable structured products tied to U.S. large-cap indices, but they differ significantly in distribution frequency, yield, and scale. That 649 basis-point yield gap raises the question of whether VAIE's weekly autocallable mechanism offers tighter rebalancing opportunities, or whether the higher payout reflects steeper principal erosion risk if the underlying doesn't trigger the call features regularly.
Second, VAIE is substantially smaller, with $68.4M versus ACYN's $2.70B, and VAIE explicitly tracks an "adaptive vol" index with embedded downside protection language, whereas ACYN uses a simpler laddered approach. VAIE also distributes weekly rather than monthly, creating reinvestment or withdrawal timing friction that matters for investors managing cash flow.
Third, expense ratios are nearly identical at 0.75% and 0.74%, so fees are not a material differentiator. ACYN publishes a beta of 0.2553, providing one lens on equity-market sensitivity.
Who each is best for
ACYN: Fits investors seeking a structured equity income stream on a predictable monthly calendar with a lower headline yield and larger fund infrastructure.
VAIE: Designed for income investors comfortable with weekly distribution resets, higher stated yield targets, and acceptance of a smaller, newer fund structure in exchange for more frequent payouts and embedded volatility management language.
Key risks to know
- Autocallable NAV erosion at high yields. Distributions above 15% annually often depend on the underlying structured note "calling away" (redeeming early at par) or rolling into new contracts. If the underlying equity index stalls or declines, the fund's ability to maintain payouts erodes NAV. VAIE's 17.09% yield sits in this risk zone; ACYN's 10.45% is lower but not immune.
- Weekly rebalancing and reinvestment drag (VAIE). Weekly distributions force frequent reinvestment decisions or create cash leakage if not automatically swept. Over time, the timing mismatch between weekly payouts and market moves can compound slippage.
- Derivative and options expiration risk. Both funds rely on embedded autocallable structures that reset or expire. If market dislocations occur at expiration windows or if implied volatility contracts sharply, the cost to roll or replicate new call features can spike unexpectedly, potentially raising effective expenses or compressing future payouts.
- Concentration and index-linked structural risk. Both track large-cap equity indices and depend on the autocallable formula staying in-the-money. A sustained large-cap equity drawdown or shift in realized volatility could impair the call mechanics, leaving the fund holding depressed equity exposure without the income cushion the structure promised.
Bottom line
If you value a larger, simpler autocallable structure with monthly payouts and a lower headline yield, ACYN's $2.70B base and 10.45% rate offer established infrastructure. Past performance does not guarantee future results, and distributions at these levels carry material principal risk.
AI-generated analysis for educational purposes only. Verify important details independently; past performance does not guarantee future results.
Learn the method
The metrics behind this comparison, explained in the Academy.
These comparisons follow the Dividend Vision methodology.